Panathinaikos: “The change of referees is scandalous – The masks have fallen as to who does not want foreigners”

On 9-4-2022, the match between AEK and Aris took place in the context of the 4th matchday of the Super League play offs, which ended with a score of 3-1.

For this match, KED had appointed the Polish referees Pawel Ratzkowski, Radoslaw Siecka, Adam Kupsik and Krzysztof Jakubic who arrived in Athens on the evening of 4-8-2022.

However, 2.5 hours before the match, at 3:19 on 9-4-2022, the KED/EPO made the following announcement:

“The KED/EPO announces the following:

By common request via letters which were sent by PAE AEK and Aris regarding publications referred to in the episode of the refereeing officials of today’s AEK-Aris match, KED/EPO is obliged to replace them with Greek referees as follows.

DIAITHTHS: DIAMANTOPOYLOS APISTOTHELS OF APKADIA

1ST BOX: MPOYXMPAOYM PAIXAPNT ΕΠΣ AN.ATTIKHΣ

2ND BOX: TPYFON PETPOPOYLOS

4TH DIAITHTHS: BEPGETHS XPHSTOS EPS APKADIAS

VAR: EYAGGELOY ANGELOS EPS ATHNON

AVAR: PHOTO POLE OF ANTPEAS EPS ATHNON”.

It is already raised by the content of the announcement, question breach of duty which was carried out by the KED/EPO and the head of Ms. Bennett, replacing arbitrators

a) at the joint request of the two competing teams and

b) based on publications!

KED’s decisions to date have not impressed us with it transparency and reliability them but by replacing arbitrators driven by publications, the KED admittedly overcame and herself!

Equally scandalous it is also the fact that the KED’s decision was taken at the joint request of the competing teams! Since when are competing teams entitled to shape the decision for their referee? How brutal I was it hurts healthy competition and the rest of the teams such a practice, we think it doesn’t need to be analyzed!

The replacement of the Polish referees was caused by publications according to which the above during their flight to Athens were drunk and created an incident with their co-passenger. For the above unprecedented replacement of the referees carried out by the KED/EPO at the most critical turning point of this year’s play offs, the head of the KED, Mr. Bennett, must answer the questions below:

1) Regarding the legally appointed Polish referees, by whom, when and how was he informed of the alleged incident with a fellow passenger on the flight to Athens?

2) Did he request information from any competent body (Police, Airport Authority, airline, etc.) regarding the incident?

3) And when did he contact the Polish referees to get an update from them as well?

4) Did he meet with the Polish referees and if so when and what was the content of their meeting? Why were the referees’ explanations deemed insufficient? Were the referees breathalyzed?

5) Is the claim of the referee Mr. Pavel Ratzkowski that Mr. Bennett went to the hotel to inform him that he will not referee the match valid?

6) On the basis of which regulatory framework did he consider that the relevant publications are sufficient to replace the referees?

Also for reasons transparency and legality Mr. Bennett must send all documents (letters, reports, correspondence) related to this case to Superleague for the attention of the teams.

Mr. Baltakos must also answer by whom, when and in what manner informed of the alleged incident and what actions he took in relation to it.

Most the masks have fallen and it has become clear who wishes not to referee the crucial matches of the Championship foreign referees but let’s go back to arbitrations like yesterday’s of Mr. Diamantopoulos who they brutally distort the championship.

In these efforts alteration of the Championship the healthy teams must react and make every Mr. Bennett and every Mr. Baltako understand that the times when the EPO functioned as agent of specific interests and groups have passed.

The EPO will ensure the interests of Hellenic Football onlyotherwise those who run it will be found their homesafter first passing through Prosecutor’s office to explain their actions.